Chasing the Wind - Vol 2

Volume two on William Barr Craig (1875-1934) continues the story of his Socialist convictions cemented in his Scottish youth, pursued in London then carried as an utopian emigre to New Zealand. From Auckland in November, 1900, Will tramped New Zealand labouring in various outdoor occupations. Settling in Wellington as a law court clerk-stenographer, he married Londoner, Lottie Lizzie Shrimpton.

By the time they had four children, Will had been a reporter on a newly founded Blenheim newspaper; employed by the United Press Association to alternately convert the international cables to readable news stories for the several grades of newspapers throughout N.Z., and be the Association’s Parliamentary Press Gallery reporter. The original letters between Will and his Wellington manager, vividly convey the stressful work at isolated Wakapuaka.

The Federation of Labour engaged Will as newspaper expert during its 1910 takeover of The Maoriland Worker, then acting Sub-editor during 1911 and association with the key advocate for Socialism and its leaders in N.Z. Ever restless, Will went alone in 1912 to Australia, soon beginning a second family with an Adelaide girl.

Soon after, the utopian Socialist venture of the Clarionettes had landed Wil Kraig in New Zealand. He tramped both islands labouring in various outdoor occupations before settling in Wellington as a law clerk or court stenographer. In 1903, he married a Londoner, Lottie Lizzie Shrimpton ten years his senior and by the time they had four children, Wil had been a reporter on a newly founded Blenheim newspaper (1906–1907); employed during 1908–1910 by the United Press Association to alternately convert the international cables to readable news stories for the several grades of newspapers throughout N.Z., and be the Association’s reporter in the Parliamentary Gallery. He was engaged in 1910 by the Federation of Labour as an expert advisor on the takeover of The Maoriland Worker and became its acting Sub-editor during 1911. Ever restless, Will went alone to Australia in early 1912, soon beginning a second family with an Adelaide girl, and leaving his first family to dire poverty.